The 2018 Aprilia RSV4 RF LE Breaks Cover with Winglets

The first production superbike with winglets has finally dropped, ushering in what is likely to be a new era for sport bike design. As we teased earlier this week, the new machine is called the 2018 Aprilia RSV4 RF LE, and only 125 units will be made (and only for the North American market).

As such, 100 lucky owners in the United States, along with 25 Canadians, will have a chance to own the new Aprilia RSV4 RF LE, that is of course if they can afford the $24,499 USD price tag ($25,495 CDN).

For that $1,000 premium over the highly acclaimed Aprilia RSV4 RF (note the $500 price bump because of the strengthening euro against the dollar), limited edition buyers get the benefit of the new carbon fiber winglets, a special livery, and a numbered production plate on the triple clamp.

While the winglets are straight from Aprilia’s “Factory Works” program, where the Aprilia Racing department in Noale will build you a superbike that is only limited by how much money is in your wallet, the Italian brand was quick to point out to us that the wings aren’t made to be functional.

Instead, they are made more to draw a connection between the limited edition superbike, and Aprilia’s racing program in MotoGP, with the Aprilia RS-GP race bike.

However, several conversations with Aprilia hinted at a future of winglets from the Italian brand, with possibly the next iteration of the superbike showing even more aerodynamic prowess, which could be interesting and just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to future superbike design.

Of note too, the World Superbike Championship has now made it legal for teams to race with winglets, so long as the homologated machine comes with them from the factory.

Aprilia though was quick to point out that the RSV4 RF LE is not a homologation special, and as such it will not be used as the basis for Aprilia’s WorldSBK racing platform.

The Italian brand is also keen to point out that the bike’s special livery is an homage to a special moment in Aprilia history – as it is an interpretation of the Loris Reggiani’s 250GP race livery, where in 1987 the Italian rider gave Aprilia its first race win in a world championship.